Continuous cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A CONTINUOUS CLEANING APPARATUS COMPRISES A ROTATING BARREL OPEN AT BOTH ENDS AND MADE IN A SKELETAL FORM WITH LONGITUDINAL PERIPHERAL PARTS SUPPORT SLATS FOR PERMITTING TREATING MEDIA TO PASS THROUGH THE SLATS AND CONTACT THE PARTS. SPACING MEANS MOVE THE PARTS IN THE BARREL AND MAINTAIN THEM SPACED FROM EACH OTHER. THE SPACING MEANS ARE DRIVEN IN A FORWARD STROKE AND A RETURN STROKE BY RECIPROACHING MEANS DURING EACH REVOLUTION OF THE BARREL.

l Sheets-$heet 1 MWKHHHHHH, A A \m G. w. POWELL ETA!- CONTINUOUS CLEANING APPARATUS iailifi I LEM||PII||JEF|MI 1L5 Dec. 14, 1971 3 w POWELL ETAL 3,626,641

CONTINUQUS CLEANING APPARATUS 1 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13, 1969 Dec. 14, 1971 w POWELL ETAL 3,626,641

CONTINUOUS CLEANING APPARATUS i Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 13, 1969 Dec. 14, 1971 w, POWELL EIAL 3,626,641

CONTINUOUS CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 13, 1969 4 Sheets-Shoot 4.

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United States Patent Office 3,626,641 Patented Dec. 14, 1971 3,626,641 CONTINUOUS CLEANING APPARATUS George W. Powell, Willard J. Harper, and James H.

Carpenter, Jr., Hagerstown, Md., assignors to The Carborundum Company, Niagara Falls, N .Y.

Filed Aug. 13, 1969, Ser. No. 849,839 Int. Cl. B24c 3/08 US. Cl. 51-15 25 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A continuous cleaning apparatus comprises a rotating barrel open at both ends and made in a skeletal form With longitudinal peripheral parts support slats for permitting treating media to pass through the slats and contact the parts. Spacing means move the parts in the barrel and maintain them spaced from each other. The spacing means are driven in a forward stroke and a return stroke by reciprocating means during each revolution of the barrel.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION One of the most significant developments in high production treatment, such as blasting, in recent years is the development of the axial flow barrel concept which is described in commonly assigned copending application Ser. No. 533,183, filed May 26, 1966. Such an axial flow barrel is particularly effective on parts whose ends are such that a small space therebetween permits sufiicient abrasive to enter and clean the ends. Parts such as automobile heads, manifolds, etc., are particularly adapted to the axial flow concept.

The axial flow concept has been enthusiastically received by the automotive industry because its design improves cleaning with fewer blasting wheels and less horsepower. In most cases axial flow eliminates the need for a second machine to spot blast parts not cleaned by the first blast. Axial flow machines are easily automated thus eliminating expensive labor. All of these advantages have pointed up the need for an axial flow machine that can clean automobile motor blocks. However, one disadvantage of conventional axial fiow machines for blocks is that if blocks are pushed end to end, the ends of the blocks cannot be cleaned. This same problem exists for some automobile heads and other parts.

One method for cleaning blocks is to push the blocks oriented bank to bank instead of end to end. This method exposes the ends to the blast and because of the V-8 block shape the sides can be cleaned. This method positions the blocks for effective overall cleaning; many blocks, however, because of their shape, cannot be pushed bank to bank. This problem requires the automobile manufacturer to change this casting which is expensive and sometimes impractical.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide an axial flow arrangement wherein parts such as automobile blocks or similar parts which cannot be pushed one against another can be progressed through the barrel.

A further object of this invention is to provide such an arrangement which not only makes it possible to move blocks bank to bank but also blocks or other parts can be spaced far enough apart so that fiat ends can be cleaned when the parts are advanced fiat end to fiat end.

In accordance with this invention the continuous cleaning apparatus comprises a rotating barrel open at both ends and in skeletal form with longitudinal peripheral support slats for permitting treating media to pass through the slats and contact the parts. Spacing means move the parts in the barrel and maintain them spaced from each other. The spacing means are driven in a forward stroke and a return stroke by reciprocating means during each revolution of the barrel.

The spacing means may advantageaously be a longitudinal bar having parts engaging surfaces such as pusher lugs. The bar may be juxtaposed and parallel to one of the support slats with the combined thickness of the bar and its juxtaposed support slat being about equal to the thickness of the remaining support slats.

During operation of the device the forward stroke of the spacing means advantageously begins at the beginning of a barrel revolution when the barrel is in its part loading position. The forward stroke ends when the barrel has rotated about 90 and the return stroke begins at about 180 revolution and ends at about a 270 revolution.

When the barrel continuously rotates parts may be continuously loaded by a walking beam arrangement.

In an alternative form of this invention the reciprocating spacer means may be one of the support slats which has rollers mounted thereon for riding against guide rails.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of a continuous treating apparatus in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3-4 are end views of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in different phases of operation;

FIGS. 5-8 are cross-sectional end views of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in different phases of operation;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view of a portion of an alternative form of this invention;

FIG. 10 is an end view similar to FIGS. 3-4 of an alternative arrangement of this invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the arrangement shown in 'FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing still another alternative form of this invention;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 12; and

FIGS. 14-15 are cross-sectional views of a modified form this invention in different phases of operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 'EIGS. l-2 show a continuous cleaning apparatus 10 in accordance with this invention. As indicated therein the apparatus 10 includes barrel 12 which is open at both ends for receiving and discharging parts 14. The barrel as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5-8 is of skeletal form com prising a plurality of longitudinal peripheral support slats 16a, 16b, 16c, and 18 which premit treating media, such as blast particles, to contact the parts 14 when projected from suitable treating means, such as blast wheels 20. Barrel 12 is rotated by drive 21 to expose all portions of part 14 to the blast wheels 20. To this point the treating apparatus is similar to the apparatus disclosed in commonly assigned copending application Ser. No. 553,183, filed May 26, 1966.

Apparatus 10 is provided with a spacing device or bar system 22 which is moved in a forward stroke and a return stroke by reciprocating mechanism 24 so that the parts 14 are moved axially in barrel 12 while being spaced from each other to permit the blast particles from blast wheels 20 to thoroughly clean the ends of parts 14. Thus the movement of the parts through the barrel is achieved by this bar system 22, rather than by the parts being pushed one against another as in the arrangement of 3 copending application Ser. No. 533,183, filed May 26, 1966.

Apparatus is particularly designed to overcome four problems which would be expected to occur by the provision of such a bar system. For example the addition of extra bars would be expected to add to masking the part from the blast stream. A second problem is in returning the spacer pusher lugs 26 of the bar system after the lugs push the blocks or parts 14. The return movement of the pusher lugs would appear to require a walking beam motion which would be diflicult to maintain in a blast cabinet such as cabinet 28. A third problem is apparent from test results which show that continuous rotation of the barrel on blocks or parts 14 positioned bank to bank give the best cleaning. Such positioning, however, would require a barrel load system that would load blocks, etc. onto a rotating barrel. A fourth problem relates to the reciprocating mechanism 24 wherein obtaining a ram motion of the bars in a rotating barrel presents mechanical and air feed problems.

FIGS. 5-8 show a particular bar system 22 which is designed to overcome the problem of masking the parts from the blast stream. As indicated therein the longitudinal bar is disposed directly below or juxtaposed and parallel to support slat 18. With this arrangement bar 30 and slat 18 occupy the same space as the remaining support slats 16. Since slat 18, however, does not have the carrying strength of slats 16a, 16b and 160, slat 18 is supported directly from the larger bars or slats 16a, 16b and 16c at the center of the barrel by support surface 32 (FIG. 1).

FIGS. 58 also exemplify the solution to the second problem of returning the spacer pusher lugs 26 to their original position. As indicated therein pusher lugs 26 are projections from bar 30 which extend into the interior of barrel 12 so that the pusher lugs 26 will engage the parts 14 during the forward stroke of bar 30. FIG. 5 illustrates the position of part 14 at the instant of loading. At this point any suitable switch (not shown) signals reciprocating mechanism 24 to start bar 30 moving by its connection of portion 34 to the reciprocating mechanism 24 whereby the bar moves in its forward and return stroke in accordance with the movement of the ram 36 (FIG. 1). At the beginning of rotation of barrel 12 a switch (not shown) is contacted and ram 36 is retracted to move the pusher lugs in its forward stroke and thus push each part forward with each part being supported on slats 18. As the part is being pushed forward and rotating, the part begins to fall away from pusher lugs 26 so that the part is then supported on slat 16a as shown in FIG. 6 which is 90 of rotation from the starting position. The forward stroke must thus be completed before the barrel passes this 90 of rotation; otherwise if the barrel rotated further, the part 14 would fall completely away from the pusher lug 26 and cause jamming. When the barrel 12 has rotated 180 (FIG. 7) part 14 is supported on slats 16b and is completely out of contact with the pusher lugs 26. The clearance created between the pusher lugs 26 and part 14 is suflicient that the pusher lugs can return to their original position and remain out of contact with the part 14. Accordingly, at this point (FIG. 7) when the barrel has rotated 180 a further switch (not shown) signals ram 36 to begin its extension from cylinder 38 and return pusher lugs 26 to their original position. This return stroke must be completed by the time barrel 12 has rotated 270 when the part is supported by slat or bar 161: but would still be in the path of motion of pusher lugs 26.

As shown in FIG. 1 the spacer lug starting position is a short distance (e.g. three inches) behind block 14. This requires spacer lugs (one of which is provided for each part) to travel this short distance before contacting the block or casting and push it forward. This thereby assures that the spacer lug 26 always returns to a point hehind the block 14 before the next push or forward stroke.

FIGS. 3-4 show the loading arrangement whereby blocks 14 are loaded on the continuously rotating barrel to solve the third problem indicated above. As illustrated in FIGS. 34 the loading is accomplished by means of a walking beam arrangement 40 which is mechanically interlocked with barrel 12. For example the walking beam arrangement 40 includes a pair of rotating sprockets 42 having arms 44 attached thereto. Beam 46 is attached to the remote ends of arms 44 with support platform 48 being connected to the upper end of beam 46. As is apparent from FIGS. 3-4, as sprockets 42 rotate beam platform 48 also rotates in such a manner that the part 14 would be first received on platform 48 (FIG. 3) and deposited in barrel 12 when platform 48 has moved 180 to the position shown in FIG. 4. Chain system 50 interconnects the walking beam arrangement 40 with barrel 12 so that both are driven by a common drive by a ratio of 1:1.

FIGS. 10-11 show an alternative drive arrangement for walking beam 40a. In this arrangement barrel 12 is driven by gear 51. Thus a reducer 52 is provided to reverse the direction of rotation for driving the walking beam 40a.

As previously indicated the loading of parts 14 into barrel 12 operates in the following manner: a part 14 is loaded onto platform 54 in any suitable manner. The walking beam platform 48 lifts the part off stationary platform 54. At this instant barrel 12 is in the position shown in FIG. 7 wherein the spacer lugs 26 have rotated 180. The walking beam platform 48 continues to move along are 56 and deposits the part 14 onto barrel 12. At this time barrel 12 is in the loading position shown in FIG. 5. The walking beam continues along are 56 to pick up the next part.

FIGS. l415 show an alternative spacing arrangement for moving the blocks or parts 14 through barrel 12. In this arrangement instead of two bars such as 18 and 30 in the previous arrangement, the arrangement of FIGS. 14-15 shows a single bar 58 which acts as both the support bar and the moving or reciprocating bar. In this arrangement the part 14 is carried on the moving bar 58 instead of sliding. If friction is sufficient between part 14 and bar 58 lugs would not be required. As a safeguard, however, to assure sufficient locking or adherence of part 14 to bar 58, bar 58 may have either a protrusion 60 or an indentation or recess 62 which is shown in phantom. Bar 58 is supported by and moves axially on rollers 64 at each end of barrel 12 which in turn ride against rotating rails 66. The walking beam loading and sequence of bar motion would be the same as that previously described.

In order to solve the fourth problem relating to ram motion for reciprocating the spacer bar, various alternative arrangements are provided. For example as shown in FIGS. 12 a hydraulic cylinder 38 or other mechanical means is disposed at the center of rotation of barrel 12 with its rod or ram 36 extending therefrom. The end of ram 36 is connected to the bar system 22 by a rotating spherical bearing 68 to offset portion 34 of bar 34). Cylinder 33 is mounted in a universal movement trunnion mount 70. The universal mount 70 plus the spherical bearing 68 allows the barrel-to-cylinder misalignment while permitting the bar 30 and its offset 34 to rotate about bearing 68. In this manner the problem regarding air or hydraulic feed lines is obviated since the cylinder itself does not rotate.

FIGS. l213 shows an alternative arrangement wherein the cylinder 38a is connected to the rotating barrel 12 while a rotary hydraulic joint '72 is mounted at the center of rotation of barrel 12. A further ramification is also illustrated in FIG. 12 wherein the rod or ram is disposed in bellows 74 to prevent abrasive particles or other debris from being carried by the rod into the cylinder.

A still further reciproctaing drive is illustrated in FIG. 9. ln this arrangement the ram motion is achieved by a mechanical drive with rack and pinion drive 76. With this type of drive the pinion 78 is powered by any conventional air, hydraulic or electric rotating motor which is interlocked with the barrel rotation.

As previously indicated the parts 14 are conveniently discharged from the barrel when the barrel has rotated 180 such as shown in FIG. 15. In this position the part is disposed outside the barrel and would only be supported by the reciprocating bar. The reciproctaing bar, however, is above the part and thus the part can be freely deposited upon a platform 80, conveyor or other suitable discharge means.

It is to be understood that various features of these arrangements may be interchanged. For example any of the arrangements can include the bellows 74. Similarly, the various reciprocating means may be used with the various spacing devices while either of the walking beam arrangements may be used with any of the other devices.

With the axial flow system of this invention it is possible to handle parts that cannot be handled in conventional axial fiow machines. For example parts, that, because of their shape, cannot be pushed one against another can be handled by the inventive arrangement. Similarly parts whose ends cannot be cleaned when the parts are pushed one against another can be spaced apart to provide the end cleaning in accordane with this invention. Moreover in some cases if the different parts are close to the same size, various types of parts may be run intermixed through the barrel.

Other advantages of the inventive arrangement are that the ram cylinder can be smaller since the inventive arrangement eliminates all tendency of parts to jam. Additionally, with this arrangement it is possible to empty the barrel of parts with its power system whereas conventional axial flow machines must be emptied manually.

Further with the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1415 the spacing and support can be accomplished with the same total number of barrel support bars or slats as would be required with a conventional axial fiow blast machine. Since these bars are carried on rollers, much less axial movement force is required to progress the parts through the barrel.

What is claimed is:

1. A continuous treating apparatus comprising a barrel having a longitudinal axis, said barrel being open at both ends to permit the axil flow of parts therethrough with one end being a load end and the other a discharge end, said barrel being of skeletal form with longitudinal peripheral support slats to permit treating media to contact the parts in said barrel, treating means for projecting treating media into said barrel, drive means for rotating said barrel, spacing means for moving the parts axially in said barrel, reciprocating means for moving said spacing means in a forward stroke and in a return stroke during each revolution of said barrel with said forward and return stroke being actuated in different quadrants in the revolution, and said spacing means being mounted for movement in a plurality of radial positions with respect to the longitudinal axis of said barrel.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim. 1 wherein said spacing means includes a longitudinal bar having spaced parts engaging surfaces thereon for maintaining the parts spaced apart from each other.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said spaced parts engaging surfaces are non-pivotal pusher In S.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said longitudinal bar is disposed outside of the barrel periphery juxtaposed and parallel to one of said support slats.

5. An aparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the combined thickness of said longitudinal bar and said one of said support slats is about equal to the thickness of each of the remaining support slats, and said one support slat being connected to and supported by at least one of said remaining support slats.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said longitudinal bar extends beyond said discharge end of said barrel and is disposed for discharging a part when said barrel and said bar has rotated about 180 from its loading position.

7. A continuous treating apparatus comprising a barrel, said barrel being open at both ends to permit the axial flow of pairs therethrough with one end being a load end and the other a discharge end, said barrel being of skeletal form with longitudinal peripheral support slate to permit treating media to contact the parts in said barrel, treating means for projecting treating media into said barrel, drive means for rotating said barrel, spacing means for moving the parts axially in said barrel, and reciprocating means for moving said spacing means in a forward stroke and in a return stroke during each revolution of said barrel with said forward and return stroke being actuated in different quadrants in the revolution, said spacing means including a longitudinal bar having spaced parts engaging surfaces thereon for maintaining the parts spaced apart from each other, said longitudinal bar extending beyond said discharge end of said barrel and is disposed for discharging a part when said barrel and said bar has rotated about 180 from its loading position, said reciprocating means being connected to said longitudinal bar in such a manner that said forward stroke of said longitudinal bar begins at the beginning of a revolution of said barrel when said barrel is in its parts loading position, said forward stroke ending when said barrel has rotated about after said loading position, said return stroke beginning when said barrel has rotated about after its loading position, and said return stroke ending when said barrel has rotated about 270 after its loading position.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim '7 wherein said parts engaging surface is out of contact with its part when said barrel has rotated about 180 from its loading position.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said longitudinal bar is one of said support slats.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said parts engaging surfaces are spaced protrusions on said longitudinal bar.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said parts engaging surfaces are spaced recesses in said longitudinal bar.

12. A continuous treating apparatus comprising a barrel, said barrel being open at both ends to permit the axial flow of parts therethrough with one end being a load end and the other a discharge end, said barrel being of skeletal form with longitudinal peripheral support slats to permit treating media to contact the parts in said barrel, treating means for projecting treating media into said barrel, drive means for rotating said barrel, spacing means for moving the parts axially in said barrel, and reciprocating means for moving said spacing means in a forward stroke and in a return stroke during each revolution of said barrel with said forward and return stroke being actuated in different quadrants in the revolution, said spacing means including a longitudinal bar having spaced parts engaging surfaces thereon for maintaining the parts spaced apart from each other, said longitudinal bar being one of said support slats, including rollers mounted on said longitudinal bar adjacent both open ends of said barrel, and guide rails disposed for having said rollers ride thereon during said forward stroke and said return stroke.

13. A continuous treating apparatus comprising a barrel, said barrel being open at both ends to permit the axial flow of parts therethrough with one end being a load end and the other a discharge end, said barrel being of skeletal form with longitudinal peripheral support slats to permit treating media to contact the parts in said barrel, treating means for projecting treating media into said barrel, drive means for rotating said barrel, spacing means for moving the parts axially in said barrel, and reciprocating means for moving said spacing means in a forward stroke and in a return stroke during each revolution of said barrel with said forward and return stroke being actuated in different quadrants in the revolution said drive means being connected for continuously rotating said barrel, a Walking beam arrangement being provided adjacent said load end of said barrel for loading parts onto said barrel, and said walking beam arrangement being driven by said drive means.

14. A continuous treating apparatus comprising a barrel, said barrel being open at both ends to permit the axial flow of parts therethrough with one end being a load end and the other a discharge end, said barrel being of skeletal form with longitudinal peripheral support slats to permit treating media to contact the parts in said barrel, treating means for projecting treating media into said barrel, drive means for rotating said barrel, spacing means for moving the parts axially in said barrel, and reciprocating means for moving said spacing means in a forward stroke and in a return stroke during each revolution of said barrel with said forward and return stroke being actuated in different quadrants in the revolution, said reciproctaing means including a ram disposed at the axis of rotation of said barrel, and universal joint means connecting said ram to said spacing means whereby said spacing means may rotate with barrel while said ram does not rotate.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said ram is hydraulically driven in a hydraulic cylinder disposed at said discharge end of said barrel.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said ram is mechanically driven by mechanical drive means disposed at said discharge end of said barrel.

17. A continuous treating apparatus comprising a barrel, said barrel being open at both ends to permit the axial flow of parts therethrough with one end being a load end and the other a discharge end, said barrel being of skeletal form with longitudinal peripheral support slats to permit treating media to contact the parts in said barrel, treating means for projecting treating media into said barrel, drive means for rotating said barrel, spacing means for moving the parts axially in said barrel, and reciprocating means for moving said spacing means in a forward stroke and in a return stroke during each revolution of said barrel with said forward and return stroke being actuated in different quadrants in the revolution, said reciprocating means being a ram connected for rotation with said barrel, said ram being mounted in a hydraulic cylinder disposed spaced from the axis of rotation on said barrel, and a rotary hydraulic joint being connected to said hydraulic cylinder with said rotary hydraulic joint being disposed along the axis of rotation of said barrel.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said ram is disposed within a bellows.

19. A continuous treating apparatus comprising a barrel, said barrel being open at both ends to permit the axial flow of parts therethrough with one end being a load end and the other a discharge end, said barrel being of skeletal form with longitudinal peripheral support slats to permit treating media to contact the parts in said barrel, treating means for projecting treating media into said barrel, drive means for rotating said barrel, spacing means for moving the parts axially in said barrel, reciprocating means for moving said spacing means in a forward stroke and in a return stroke during each revolution of said bar- 8 rel, and said reciprocating means being connected to and jointly rotatable with said barrel.

20. A continuous treating apparatus comprising a barrel, said barrel having a longitudinal axis, said barrel being open at both ends to permit the axial flow of parts therethrough with one end being a load end and the other a discharge end, said barrel being of skeletal form with longitudinal peripheral support slats to permit treating media to contact the parts in said barrel, treating means for projecting treating media into said barrel, drive means for rotating said barrel, spacing means for moving the parts axially in said barrel, reciprocating means for moving said spacing means in a forward stroke and in a return stroke, said spacing means including an elongated bar extending generally parallel to the barrel axis and movable in a plurality of radial positions With respect to the barrel axis, and a plurality of non-pivotal parts engaging lugs fixed on said bar.

21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 20 including means for changing the relative distance between said bar and the axial centerline of the parts flowing through said barrel.

22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said means for changing said relative distance includes said drive means, and said bar being connected to rotate with said barrel whereby during the rotation of said barrel the parts move toward and away from said bar.

23. A continuous treating apparatus comprising a barrel, said barrel being open at both ends to permit the axial flow of parts therethrough with one end being a load end and the other a discharge end, said barrel being of skeletal form with longitudinal peripheral support slats to permit treating media to contact the parts in said barrel, treating means for projecting treating media into said barrel, drive means for rotating said barrel, said drive means being connected for continuously rotating said barrel, a walking beam arrangement being provided adjacent said load end of said barrel for loading parts onto said barrel, and said walking beam arrangement being driven by said drive means.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 20 including a blasting cabinet, said barrel being disposed in said blasting cabinet, feed means adjacent said load end of said barrel for delivering parts thereto, discharge means being adjacent said discharge end of said barrel for carrying parts away from said barrel, and said treating means being a plurality of centrifugal throwing wheels.

25. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23 including a blasting cabinet, said barrel being disposed in said blasting cabinet, discharge means adjacent said discharge end of said barrel for carrying the parts away from said barrel, and said treating means comprising a plurality of centrifugal throwing wheels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,204,636 6/1940 Turnbull 5l-9 2,565,341 8/1951 Arispe 51-15 2,918,071 12/1959 Umbricht et a1 l34--l44 LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 51-9 

